Former Fort Lee mayor discusses work with FBI

By Maxim Almenas

STAFF WRITER |

Fort Lee Suburbanite

FORT LEE — When Burt Ross was mayor of Fort Lee in 1971, he wore a wire for the FBI to help expose mobsters who were trying to pay their way into the Helmsley Property, known today as Redevelopment Area 5.

Former Fort Lee Mayor Burt Ross, right, speaks with Tom Myers of the Fort Lee Museum, at the museum, about his book 'The Bribe,' in which Ross details his undercover work with the FBI to stop corruption on the land now known as Redevelopment Area 5.

The events of some 40 years ago, were among the topics discussed by Ross, who has documented his experiences in his book "The Bribe," during a question and answer session at the Fort Lee Historical Museum on Oct. 12.

"Back in the days, decades before you became mayor, the town with the most housewives in the United States with lines for bookies was Fort Lee, N.J.," said Tom Myers, a member of the Fort Lee Historical Society, the event sponsor. "My grandmother was one of them. They were paid extra money. Gambling was prevalent," Myers added.

"It was expected that the store owners would kick in money during Christmas time to the police fund," added Ross. "There were a great number of people who were given badges, which meant they were friends of the 'machine'. So if a cop stopped that person for speeding and they showed the badge, he was pretty lenient."

Myers credited Ross, now an Englewood resident, not only for his courage in the mob case, but also for his "legacy of public service" which went beyond fighting corruption, a point made clearer by a former Fort Lee volunteer firefighter.

"You were a big supporter of us. I was battalion chief that year, and you helped us," said George Makroulakis, referring to new fire trucks Ross and his council purchased.

The initiative was timely, as more high rises were being built in the borough at the time.

"The equipment you see today was just a stepping stone. Firehouse No. 3 was outside of Jones Road, and Burt helped us. He's done a lot for us and the town."

Ross, who also had Center and Anderson avenues changed to one-way roads to help reduce congestion, was also credited with other improvements residents enjoy today.

"He was responsible for building the ambulance corps building," said Councilman Armand Pohan, adding that at the time, Fort Lee owned only one ambulance, which was stationed behind borough hall. "He also built the youth center across from the high school."

Pohan, who was the borough attorney when Ross was mayor, also credited him with building the first senior citizens housing project in the borough, at the Malcolm Towers.

"It was a very creative project because land under that building is owned by the New Jersey Department of Transportation," Pohan explained, referring to a site where the DOT stores trucks and road salt.

Pohan said Ross and his council received a grant from the state to acquire the air rights above the building for the facility.

"So we got the land for nothing," Pohan added. "Land in Fort Lee is not cheap. In 1973, it would have cost a couple a million. Today it could be worth $10 million."

Former Fort Lee mayor discusses work with FBI

By Maxim Almenas

STAFF WRITER |

Fort Lee Suburbanite

FORT LEE — When Burt Ross was mayor of Fort Lee in 1971, he wore a wire for the FBI to help expose mobsters who were trying to pay their way into the Helmsley Property, known today as Redevelopment Area 5.

Former Fort Lee Mayor Burt Ross, right, speaks with Tom Myers of the Fort Lee Museum, at the museum, about his book 'The Bribe,' in which Ross details his undercover work with the FBI to stop corruption on the land now known as Redevelopment Area 5.

The events of some 40 years ago, were among the topics discussed by Ross, who has documented his experiences in his book "The Bribe," during a question and answer session at the Fort Lee Historical Museum on Oct. 12.

"Back in the days, decades before you became mayor, the town with the most housewives in the United States with lines for bookies was Fort Lee, N.J.," said Tom Myers, a member of the Fort Lee Historical Society, the event sponsor. "My grandmother was one of them. They were paid extra money. Gambling was prevalent," Myers added.

"It was expected that the store owners would kick in money during Christmas time to the police fund," added Ross. "There were a great number of people who were given badges, which meant they were friends of the 'machine'. So if a cop stopped that person for speeding and they showed the badge, he was pretty lenient."

Myers credited Ross, now an Englewood resident, not only for his courage in the mob case, but also for his "legacy of public service" which went beyond fighting corruption, a point made clearer by a former Fort Lee volunteer firefighter.

"You were a big supporter of us. I was battalion chief that year, and you helped us," said George Makroulakis, referring to new fire trucks Ross and his council purchased.

The initiative was timely, as more high rises were being built in the borough at the time.

"The equipment you see today was just a stepping stone. Firehouse No. 3 was outside of Jones Road, and Burt helped us. He's done a lot for us and the town."

Ross, who also had Center and Anderson avenues changed to one-way roads to help reduce congestion, was also credited with other improvements residents enjoy today.

"He was responsible for building the ambulance corps building," said Councilman Armand Pohan, adding that at the time, Fort Lee owned only one ambulance, which was stationed behind borough hall. "He also built the youth center across from the high school."

Pohan, who was the borough attorney when Ross was mayor, also credited him with building the first senior citizens housing project in the borough, at the Malcolm Towers.

"It was a very creative project because land under that building is owned by the New Jersey Department of Transportation," Pohan explained, referring to a site where the DOT stores trucks and road salt.

Pohan said Ross and his council received a grant from the state to acquire the air rights above the building for the facility.

"So we got the land for nothing," Pohan added. "Land in Fort Lee is not cheap. In 1973, it would have cost a couple a million. Today it could be worth $10 million."